Latest News

Filter Results:

1 week to go

22 June 2017

C2C2C June 2017

I'm writing this as we find ourselves, once again, having to sort out C2C2C after another political upheaval. Clearly the May camp had no regard to the other important events of June when calling a snap election.

With that in mind, we have some changes to the 2017 running of C2C2C:

1. It's not a race (how many times do we have to tell you that?) but if you come in after your team mates you can claim a popular victory and demand bragging rights as though you actually completed the ride in a quicker time.

Those who come in first in their team might need to phone a friend in Northern Ireland just to make sure they get their choice of burger or sausage at the BBQ

Momentum are offering free Pinarello Dogmas to anyone who voted for them. Apply to Islington CC to claim your new bike.

If you voted for strong and stable, then the PM came last week to avoid talking to any of the riders.

Full breakfast, if not full Brexit, is available, as the rugby club will be selling bacon butties (£2) and cups of coffee (£1) at the start line.

A bit like the Queen’s Speech, we’ve made a last minute change to the village list, but it’s OK if you do go via Bardney. See ‘The Route’ below

And the start / finish venue and Stages 1 & 4 are different to last year…and don’t include a castle.

Right, on with business:

On the Day

You need to read this. If you end up in East Yorkshire, then good luck. There will be no test and no prizes for getting it right but you will look like a bit of a prat if you get it wrong.

The short version: Arrive Rugby Club a.m., follow registration instructions, follow arrows until you arrive back at rugby club, drink beer, go home.

START / REGISTRATION

The start point will be from

Lincoln Rugby Club

Lodge Lane

Nettleham

LN2 2RS

Please note that this is a change of venue from the last few years.

The site will be open from 06:30. Plenty of parking is now available on site, but please take note of the lane segregation so we can minimise bike vs car incidents. Please follow instructions given to you about parking so we can fit the maximum number of cars on site. Registration is on the far side of the clubhouse (on the pitch side where there aren't so many cars). Be like sheep and follow the people in front of you. If they have a tabard and a clipboard, listen to them - they are people not to be messed with.

Remember you should plan your start time so that you arriveback at the rugby club between 4:00pm and 6:00pm, allowing for food stops, map reading, lunch, discussing chamois inserts and generally faffing around x number of people in your team etc.

We will have volunteers (smile at them, they ddon’t bite) on site from 07:00 until 10:00, co-ordinated by Jeannine, aka Miss Rugby Club.

ALL RIDERS will need to sign in with our volunteers so we know who is out there. You cannot be signed in by a team leader. You will also be asked to sign our disclaimer that states you are a sentient adult without a death wish, and want to arrive back in one piece. (See note to adults below)

Wristband, my friend...

You gotta have a wristband. If you don't have a wrist and, my friend - you don't get fed and watered. [Thanks to Paul Simon for co-writing our newsletter]

The Route

We will not be printing route maps this year, so please print your own beforehand and bring along. You can also download maps for GPS via our website: http://c2c2c.co.uk/the-route . On each map image, click on View the Full route and it will take you to the map within the RidewithGPS site. You can also see the full route on Strava via the link on the same page.

[Please note that the route back in on Stage 4 goes back through Gautby (as in previous years) and not Bardney as an earlier online version of our village list shows. Route is entirely optional, so you can ride back via Bardney if you want / can / don't want to admit you were lost.

When leaving the rugby club, turn LEFT. There aren't many arrows to the right and a busy road so at least the first decision shouldn't be too hard.

We have placed strategic green arrows on white background at junctions to help routing, but the online maps and village list are sufficient to find your way around.

First feed station

There will be food and energy drink top up at Hemingby Village Hall on Mill Lane. This falls at about 23 miles. Ms Hemingby will be there with a small band of volunteers between 08:00 and 16:30.

The Appendix

If you are made of sterner stuff (i.e. more optimism than common sense) and want to do something a little different this year, we still have C2C2C200. If you are choosing this option, you will need to let us know, preferably in advance by email to jeannine@wrightvigar.co.uk, but at the latest when signing in on the day, and you will get your limited edition wristband that will make sure you get the adulation / sniggers of those you pass / are passed by. You also get three opportunities to eat at Hemingby

The Appendix route is an out and back from Hemingby following the black-on-white arrows. An additional 25 miles and 1,700 feet of climbing, to make a total of 200km / 5000' on the day. Hooooaaahh! You can do it on the way out or on the way back in, but let’s be honest; we all know you won’t feel like doing it on the way back, will you?

Lunch

Our rendezvous (at 58 miles) for lunch is Chapel Point Café, where we will have a band of volunteers lead by Torie (ignore her at your peril). You will be handed a voucher* by Team Torie which you can exchange for a bacon sandwich, sausage sandwich, or you can put its value toward larger meals. Even if you are not eating please check in with Torie so we know you've made it this far. * Remember Paul Simon told you about the wristbands....

In order to keep the queue time for lunch to a minimum there will be TWO queues in the café. If you are choosing simply from the free lunch menu issued please queue to the left, if you wish to order from the main menu or would like to buy something in addition to the free lunch you will need to queue to the right (and pay any price difference). If you struggle to tell the difference between left and right, may I suggest you take your passport and a phrase book on the day?

Although we make every effort to make this as smooth as possible, you are not trying to qualify for the Olympics, so remember that this is not your regular fast in and out feed station (the ride is supposed to be fun, remember!), so sit down, have a cup of tea and bacon butty, then dip your toes in the sea.

There are toilet facilities in the car park next to the café. This year we will have some water barrels and High 5 energy drink at the Cafe. Please don't ask Gary and his team at the kitchen at Chapel Point Cafe to fill up water bottles as this slows up service dramatically for the queue quickly forming behind you...

Second feed station

If you passed up the opportunity for a pint at the Blue Bell in Belchford (Strava segment through the bar, slowest wins), then the return journey passes through Hemingby again (c82 miles) to mop up any flapjack or jelly babies that Ms Hemingby hasn't eaten yet, but this will only be open until 16:30. The final 20 miles is inevitably the hardest even though it is flatter, so make sure you are carrying some spare food for the final push, especially if you are likely to be running late and risk missing the final feed station closing time.

We have an honorary Miss Hemingby this year in the form of Jason Queally MBE, Olympic and World Champs gold track medalist who will be hanging around for a bit in the afternoon, handing out sausage rolls and then leading out the HSBC team in an attempt to nab a few Strava segments on the way back. He’s happy to give out some cycling tips, but bear in mind he’s a track cyclist and not very good at turning right…just saying. But he did win Gold at one of the hardest events, the kilo.

Home Sweet Home

We will be holding a BBQ at the RUGBY CLUB in Nettleham between 4:00 and 7:00pm, after you have returned, and again you will be given a BBQ voucher and a bar voucher as you arrive at the RUGBY CLUB and check in with Jeannine and team. (No wristband, no food. How often do I have to tell you, Mr Sewell?) If you don't make it back to the rugby club, please make sure someone lets us know (numbers below): we can't task a Sea King to come and find you.

There will also be a few little extras in a handy 'helmet and shoes' bag for teams as they come in courtesy of Pipers Crisps, Impsport, Giant and The Health Store as well as the opportunity of a quick massage from Roma & friends.

Finally we will also be having the usual thank yous and also cheque presentations to our chosen charities, ably assisted by Jason Queally - the guy with the gold medal we told you about earlier. Sydney

All the food and drinks en route have been provided through generous sponsorship and our volunteers.

All of whom have ensured that all costs are covered so all your donations can go to our chosen charities: LIVES cycle paramedics scheme, Lincs & Notts (shiny new) Air Ambulance and Men's Sheds. (Last year we raised over £25k for Lincs MS, Cyclists Fighting Cancer and St Barnabas Hospice, and Anabelle’s wish.

Please support our sponsors - they are local businesses supporting local businesses, so return the favour.

We're all grown-ups...

Please remember it is your responsibility to ensure your bike is roadworthy and you can navigate yourself to and from the coast. Our route is only a suggestion to help you avoid busy roads and find the quieter roads to enjoy, as well as to chance upon some flapjack, jelly babies and energy drinks. There are some major roads to cross, primarily the A158 at Baumber and the A16 Haugham and South Thoresby, and the A158 again at Langworth

As it is public roads, you must follow the Highway Code and the Laws of Physics will still apply:

if the road goes downhill, you will speed up;

if you try to head butt a car, you will lose;

If you try to stop using a front brake on gravel, Gravity will pay a sudden visit and you will have an interesting face rash.

Please ride with consideration for other cyclists and motorists and don't litter - we ride through the best bits because they are pretty, not because they are in need of idiots and rubbish.

The ride is unsupported, but feel free to have your own support vehicle, if you wish. We'll do all we can to help and co-ordinate if you are unable to complete the ride, but ultimately it is your responsibility to get yourself, and your bike, back to Lincoln. If you do have a support car for your team let us know when you arrive on site at Rugby Club so you can get out more easily amongst the bikes and also please let any of our volunteer leaders know at Hemingby or Chapel Point and pass on mobile numbers in case they can help out.

Mechanics from Giant at Doddington Hall will be on site at the Rugby Club from approx 7:30 before moving on to Hemingby to sort out any minor niggles, but don't turn up expecting minor miracles or a free service to make a bike rideable.

Phew - that's a lot of dull but important stuff out of the way. Detention for anyone who hasn't read it.

See you all on Thursday 29 June. Bring sun tan lotion, sense of humour and plenty of water!